SALFORD-BORN Great Britain international Adrian Morley is a realistic target for the City Reds, according to director of football Steve Simms.

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STEVE Simms says that his Australian scouting mission was so successful that he could have come back to Salford with 'six or seven signatures' for next season.

Salford City Reds' director of football met up with numerous rugby league agents down under, including those of home grown great Adrian Morley and former Aussie Test ace Scott Hill.

He says that players of that calibre are realistic targets for a club lying fourth in the Super League table with a new stadium - and a resulting higher salary cap - on the horizon.

But Simms was referring to other players with the 'six or seven signatures' comment.

He said: "The trip to Australia went better that I ever could have expected.

"I talked with a lot of agents and NRL players, some with British passports, and I have come back with a big list of people who want to play for us.

"Everyone in Australia follows the English game. They all know how well Salford are doing this season and that has made a big difference.

"What we have to do now is sit down, find out who is available in England, and then decide which players we want.

"We have got a lot of really good options but they've got to be the right players at the right price.

"I did talk with the agents of Adrian Morley and Scott Hill. Those are realistic targets for us. The club has a bright future and when we get our new stadium we'll have more money to spend. So we are not far away from being able to afford players of that calibre and we have to be ready for it.

"But there are a lot of clubs after Adrian and Scott has two years left to run on his contract at Melbourne Storm. Those players know that we are interested in them and something may well end up coming from that."

Salford's annual wage budget is half a million pounds less than the top Super League clubs like Leeds and St Helens.

As such, the Reds need to be sensible with their pot of cash. That is why skipper Malcolm Alker's three-year contract offer is a take it or leave it affair.

Simms said: "We want Malcolm to stay but we know he has been offered a contract from Australia and we can't afford to get involved in a bidding war.

"With our salary cap, if we give all our players extra money we'll end up with only 10 players.

"We have offered Malcolm a very good contract. It is much bigger than the one he's got and it's extended. We have all got our fingers crossed that he decides to stay."

Salford suffered their first home defeat since last July when they were edged out by second-placed Leeds on Easter Monday. They hope to get back to winning ways at home to unbeaten table-toppers St Helens tomorrow, Friday, April 21, kick-off 8pm. The game will be televised by Sky Sports.

Simms, who confirmed that prop Paul Highton has penned a two-year contract extension, said: "I've no doubt that we can beat St Helens, especially at home. But it is going to take a great performance from us. St Helens probably have the best squad in the world and they have been outstanding so far this season."

Salford should welcome back three of the five forwards who missed the Leeds game through injury - Gareth Haggerty (ankle), Simon Baldwin (knee) and Andrew Brocklehurst (ribs).

The other two - Ian Sibbit (shoulder) and Sean Rutgerson (neck) - have been ruled out of the St Helens game.